AHISD Names New Superintendent

AHISD Names New Superintendent

Dr. Dana Bashara

The Alamo Heights ISD Board of Trustees have named Dr. Dana Bashara as the superintendent of schools. Dr. Bashara most recently served as the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education for the district. Bashara assumed the duties of superintendent after the state-mandated 21-day waiting period.

Board of Trustees President John Tippit noted, “Twenty-two years ago, Dana stepped into room 503 of Woodridge Elementary to begin her career as a fifth grade teacher in our district. Since that day, she has excelled in every role she has taken on - including teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent – and has been instrumental in helping the district develop and implement its strategic plans. We are delighted to name her as our next superintendent and have full confidence that she will lead this district to even greater heights for many years to come.”

During her role as Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Bashara led the District Education Advisory Council, which developed the Profile of a Learner, the framework for the district’s strategic plan. For the past eight years, she also chaired the District Design Team, which has helped transform numerous district-wide programs including: Showcase of Engagement, Ambassadors for Education, and the district’s Professional Development program. Dr. Bashara also led the partnership with Engage2Learn for the rollout of the AHISD Engaged Classroom initiative, the Teacher Leader Academy, and the AHISD Dual Language Program, which is regionally acclaimed as a model for elementary and secondary effectiveness.

Prior to her role as Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Bashara served as Director of Personnel and Public Information where she was a key leader in the district’s strategic planning process, made significant improvements in the human resources department, and initiated the development of a district communications department.

Prior to that, Dana served as the Principal at Cambridge Elementary School (2003-2006), Assistant Principal at Cambridge and Alamo Heights Junior High School (1999-2003). She began her career in the district as a fifth-grade teacher at Woodridge Elementary.

Raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dana graduated from Baldwin High School in 1992. Dana earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology as well as her K-8 Education Certification in a double major program at Allegheny College. She completed her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in 1998 at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She completed her Doctorate in Educational Administration at Texas A & M University in 2008.

She is married to Collier Bashara, a former AHISD graduate who was a student at Cambridge Elementary, AHJS, and AHHS! Dana and Collier have three daughters, Sadie Mae, Ainslie and Addison, and a son, Grady, all students at AHISD.

Dr. Bashara has earned numerous awards and recognitions during her career in the district. The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association named her 2013-2014 TEPSAN of the Year. She received the Yellow Rose of Texas Education Award for outstanding contributions to leadership in education from the Constance Allen Heritage Guild. And most recently, the San Antonio Business Journal named her a Woman in Leadership Award Recipient in 2017.

Dr. Dana Bashara succeeds Dr. Kevin Brown who has served as superintendent since June of 2008 and was recently named the Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators. The AHISD initiated a search process in February for a new superintendent and, with the assistance of the search firm Horn & Associates, Inc., the Board gathered public input from community members, teachers and staff to develop a profile of preferred qualities for a new superintendent. Board President John Tippit added, “We are very appreciative of the community’s input throughout the search process, and the guidance from Dr. John Horn. We are also very grateful for the outstanding leadership provided by Dr. Kevin Brown during his tenure, and we look forward to continued growth and success under Dr. Dana Bashara’s leadership.”

For more information about the search process, visit AHISD’s webpage: www.ahisd.net.

Alamo Heights Independent School District

7101 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Phone 210-824-2483 | Fax

The Alamo Heights Independent School District, the heart of our community whose passion is excellence, will educate and empower every student to excel academically and as a confident, compassionate citizen with impeccable character and a global perspective through engaging, personally challenging, and relevant experiences that inspire learning for life.